Colombo: The Sri Lankan police Monday arrested 113 people as they attempted to set sail to Australia illegally.
Six human smugglers were also arrested in the pre-dawn operation in Colombo and in the coastal town of Negombo, police spokesman Ajith Rohana said.
Vehicles used to transport the asylum seekers were also seized, Xinhua reported.
Each person had paid over $2,000 for the illegal journey aboard a boat to Australia.
Sri Lanka and Australia have an agreement to check illegal immigrants. (IANS)